Applications of pair-production for improved radiotherapy

Abstract

The present invention relates to the treatment of cancer by irradiation by high energy photons, wherein the cancer has been infused with a heavy metal. The invention further relates to the use of pair-production for increased cancer cell destruction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating a solid-tumor selected from the group consisting of a Childhood Lung Cancer, a Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, and a Small Cell Lung Cancer in a patient, wherein the patient is a mammal, comprising the steps of:
 a. administering to the patient a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a heavy metal organometallic compound; 
 b. allowing a time interval of 5 minutes to 12 hours to pass; and 
 c. irradiating the area of the patient previously identified as the location of the solid tumor with a dose of high energy photons having an energy of 15 MV to 50 MV sufficient to induce positron-electron pair production at the site of the solid tumor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment includes killing cells of the solid tumor. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal organometallic compound comprises one or more of tungsten, platinum, gold, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, thallium, and lead. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal organometallic compound comprises a metal having low toxicity. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal organometallic compound comprises tungsten. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dose of high energy photons is from 2 Gr to 20 Gr.